The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-09-22
y A TEMPTATION. MG

newspaper III Davenport, Ia. had Just lett
college; | was hopeful, enthusiastic, and the
prospects were rose hued and enchanting. A
year later great financial crisis swept over
the country and wrecked my journalistic
venture, leaving me a bankrupt without any
available resources
There was man living in Davenport at
that date named Mcclure. He was connected
with family of some wealth, and had been
a steamboat man for many years, and had
closed his career in that line through the loss
Of his eyesght. Although totally blind, he
preserved his energy aud somewhat of his
ambition, and determined to earn his own
living. Many schemes were devised and dis
cussed, and finally one was adopted. 1t con-
sisted in panoramic exhibition. The Nor
mon matter was at that time one of consd-
cradle prominence, and it was believed that
the public interest in the history of the saints
might be depended on as a source Of profit.
Accordingly Mcclure ordered the painting Of
panorama in which, in a score OF pictures,
there were presented the principal events in
the career of the Mormons.
Mcclure needed some one to oversee his
movements and to act as the lecturer. | was
offered the position at the then munificent
salary of $50 a week, to he paid in gold, with
PROMISE vi II luNAsu SudlG III JuG pIOSpcb-
tive inevitable profits of tine enterprise.
Alneit somewhat given to pessimistic views
of life and inclined to despondent conclusions,
became enthused over his brilliant colorings
Of the future, and saw myself the posSessor of
unlimited wealth.
IL
The opening night of the panoramic ven
ture was in June, 1855 There was a fair
I trraIaI
for three hours through paper which had
prepared for the occasion, and which was in
the main a young mans savage denunciation
of the prosecutions of the unfortunate saints.
The next night we gave an exhibition at
Rock Island. across the river. The attend
ance was light and as l had cut my lecture
to one-half its original dimensions, had
reason to think that the audience was at
least better pleased with this feature of the
exhibition A blind musician named Parker
was the orchestra for the evening
A couple Of days later we were en- route
eastward, and made our first halt at Geneseo.
The audience did not number more than
score. At La Sale it rained as if the fouu-
datons of the great deep had again been
broken up, and the attendance in the cramped
and foul smelling room in the court house,
which we had secured for the exhibition,
could have been Tailed by ones fingers.
At Kalamazoo we had Fireman's hall and
but ten people present, three of whom were
deadheads, with the result that Mcclure was
unable to pay the hall rent, and the pro.
prietor held his pictures as security.
There is a little town a few miles beyond
Kalamazoo OIL the Michigan Central railroad.
Immediately at the close of my lecture at
Kalamazoo Mcclure gave me thrty-fve
cents to pay my fare to this town so that
might distribute the handbills of the pano-
ranic exhibition. He did not then know that
his appliances would be held. | left toward
midnight, and that was the last ever saw of
the panorama and its proprietor.
/ secured the little hall contained in the
town, and distributed printed advertisements
The trains came, but no panorama. Two
days thus passed, when letter from Mcclure
informed me that he was about to return to
Davenport to obtain some more money, and
that he would come back in few days.
Ill
When, after some time had elapsed, and the |
promised panorama did not come, began to |
feel my situation embarrassing. The hotel
proprietor had accepted my explanation of a |
lack of funds, and readily agreed to await |
week matters began to change. There was
no Mcclure, and was not the possessor of a Il
single nickel. | was ashamed to write for
assistance to any Of my friends; in fact, l
could think of none of them that would prob |
ably respond to Il request for money, under |
the circumstances. l became respondent; |
my bright promises Of year before had all |
faded, and l felt myself an absolute failure /
l was a wretched castaway in a strange 4
region without friend, or resource or hope |
One day, when sitting in bowling alley /
and watching game between a couple of /
local experts, a stranger entered, and after /
looking around in an Indifferent manner, /
finally, as if by accident, dropped into the i
seat adjoining mine. Some peculiar stroke Il
by one of the players elected a remark from i
me, to which he responded. This grew into a /
conversation, and later into an intimacy He /
was tall man. about 80 years Of age, with a
smooth, open face, keen brown eyes, dark 4
hair and u physique indicating the possession
of great strength He was very sOciable in L
his methods, treating freely at the bar. and |
had at his command a large supply Of money, /
especially in the shape Of gold coin, a nand- |
full of which he was in the habit of pulling \
from his pocket when he had 10 pay for some
purchase.
He seemed to take liking for me. He cul- |
tiyated my acquaintance. He had been about /
the world a good deal and knew many curl Il
Gus people and wonderful things. In my Il
loneliness he was welcome distraction, and |
became attached to him and we were in
separable.
".
One bright Sabbath he invited me to take
walk into the country. We strolled along the
wagon road for mile or So and then turned /
into a meadow near the center of which was
n large tree To this he led the way, and
when we reached it we sat down within the Il
grateful shade. My companion seemed un-
usually happy. His ideas ran on the splendors
of wealth, the glory Of travel, the favors Of Il
beautiful women, and other matters kindred /
in their roseate suggestions At length his L
thoughts drifted insensibly, as it were, into /
the far east. He seemed familiar with ancient |
history and the legends of the fabulous wealth /
Of the oriental rulers and princes, of their ex-
cesses, their armors and their luxurious dis
Sipations.
He related many curious legends, among l
which Solomon wac a principal figure. L
Finally he told me the following:
"Some fifty years ago there was traveller
engaged in examining the ruins of the temple Il
in Jerusalem. He was a man Of great learn
ing, especially in antiquarian history and in
chemistry For many weeks he searched
through the foundations of the temple. care
fully examining every foot of its accessible
surface He consulted constantly during his |
search small diagram made UP of puzzling |
lines.
"One day, in a remote recess which he dis |
covered, and whose entrance had apparently, |
been concealed for ages, he closely examined |
the walls, and on one of them found some
mysterious characters. The moment he saw
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